Trap or overflow receiver



June 3 1924.

F. L. SHELOR TRAP OR OVERFLOW RECEiVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Julv 2a, 1922 attorney June 3 1924.

TRAP OR OVERFLOW RECEIVER Filed July 28, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20* llllllyg 24 i mu 9 57 v 41 l 22 I 4 21 :5 I 63- 30 28 E um 28 gwuen'tozz abtomaq Patented June 3, 1924.

FREDERICK LYNNE SHELOR, OF PETERSB'URG, VIRGINIA.

TBA]? 03 OVERFLOW' RECEIVER.

Application filed July 28, 1922. Serial No. 573,189.

or receiver for use in an air suction conduit for trapping or catching any liquid flowing into the conduit with the air, and the device is intended especially for use on vacan improvement over'the traps or devices disclosed in my Patent No. 1,244,552, granted Oct. 30, 1917, and in my copending ap plication Serial No. 354,4t33, filed Jan. 27, 1920. 1 1

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of such a device which will be entirely automatic in operation, so that no attention is necessary on the-part of an attendant in discharging the liquid trapped within the device.

Another object is the provision of such a device including means for normally closing the drain outlet, and operable when thepartial vacuum or air suction within the chamber is reduced, for automatically opening the drain outlet for the discharge of the liquid, such as during the interval when changing from filled to unfilled bottles or vessels, when the device is used in vacuum filling apparatus of the kind disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 226,808 filed April 5, 1918, and Serial No. 238,503 filed June 6, 1918.

A further object is the provision of novel pneumatic means for controlling the drain outlet valve, whereby said valve is opened and closed automatically by predetermined changes in vacuum or air suction;

A still further object is the provision of a novel arrangement of the inlet and outlet tubes within the chamber Or jar, for the delivery of any liquid into the chamber or jar without the liability of same passing to the air outlet. 7

The invention also has for an object the provision of such a device comprising a novel arrangement and construction of the component elements to enhance the utility and efliciency of the device.

With the foregoing and other objects in I view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is aside elevation of the trap, portions being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device with --the jar removed. uum filling apparatus, and is particularly of suitable metal or other'material, which may be such as to resist the attack by deleterious liquids, and as inverted glass jar 9 is preferably used to provide the air and liquid chamber, andv has its neck screwthreaded within a screw-threaded socket 8 formed in the upper portion of the base 7,

and a gasket 10 is preferably provided between the shoulders of the base 7 and jarv as parts of the device located within the jar. Furthermore, the jar can be readily unscrewed from the base and removed, for purpose of cleaning, repairs or inspection.

Two vertical or upright tubes 11 and; 12 are secured at their lower ends within the base 7 at the bottom of the socket 8 in any suitable manner, and rise within the jar 9 to a point close to the upper end of the jar. The tube 11 is for the outlet of air from the upper portion of the chamber and the tube 12 is for the inlet of air and liquid,

and an air suction pipe 13 is secured to the base 7 at one side in communication with the lower end of the tube 11, and an air and liquid nipple 14.- is secured within the base at another side for the attachment of a hose, tube or pipe which may extend to'the filler heads (not shown) of a filling apparatus, so that the air and any liquid drawn from the filler heads is carried by the way of the tube 12 into the chamber. The pipe 13 leads to an air pump (not shown), whereby a stream of air is drawn through the conduit and the trap chamber, which chantber is disposed in and a part of said conduit. The tubes 11 and 12 extend upwardly within the ar parallel with one another, and the tube 12 is longer than the tube 11 and has its upper terminal portion bent back to project downwardly, as at 15, and said terminal 15 is disposed adjacent to and against the tube 11 and is fastened thereto by means of wire 16 wrapped around said terminal 15 and tube 11, or any other suitable band or attaching means can be used. The tubes are thus fastened together so that the Y brace one another, and air and liquid flowing from the tube 12 are directed downwardly into the chamber, and away from the upper end of the tube 11, so that particles of the liquid are not apt to be carried by the air which rises from below the lower end of the termi nal 15 to enter the upper end of the tube 11.

The base or block 7 has a drain opening or outlet 17 leading downwardly from the bottom of the socket 8, and extending at an angle horizontally at its lower end, as at 18, to a valve chamber 19 in the base 7 extending to one side 01 the base. An opening 20 leads downwardly from said chamber 19 for the outlet of the'liquid, and a drain pipe (shown in F can be attached to the base 7 within the opening 20 for directing the liquid to the point desired (such as tank from which the liquid is drawn by the filling apparatus for filling the bottles or vessels). The base 7 is formed with a valve seat 21 within the chamber 19 at the end or: the lower portion of the drain outlet 17, and a disk valve 22 is seatable against said seat to close the drain outlet.

A pneumatic means is provided for controlling the valve 22, and includes a diaphragm casing 23 composed of the outer and inner sections 24.- and 25, respectively, which have their rims secured together by means of screws 26 or the like, to clamp the edge portions of a flexible diaphragm 27 which is located within the casing between the sectionsthereot. The inner casing section 25 is secured to one side of the base 7 by means of screws 28 or the like, which can be readily inserted and tightened before the section 24: and diaphragm are secured to the section 25. Said section 25 has an annular flange 29 projecting therefrom opposite to the section 24L- to fit in the enlarged or counterbored outer end of the chamber 19 and a flexible diaphragm 30 is clamped. between the flange 29 and the shoulder 29 of the chamber 19, to close said chamber opposite to the drain outlet 17. The opening 20 leads downwardly from between the valve seat 21 and diaphragm 30, and the diaphragm 30 is of smaller diameter than the diaphragm 27 The diaphragm 30 serves as a closure or barrier between the chamber 19 and the casing 23, whereby to prevent liquid from enportion 32 is conical, as at tering said diaphragm casing. The valve is movable with and operated by said diaphragms as will presently appear.

A horizontal spindle or stem 31 extends centrally through the diaphragms and inner end has a conical point 32 and loosely enters the socket portion projecting from the back of the valve 22 opposite to the seat 21. The closed end of the socket of the 34-, reception of the pointed end of the spindle, with the point of the spindle contacting with the pointed end of the socket. This permits the valve to tilt or swing slightly on the spindle, and adjusts itself, whereby to seat snugly against the seat 21 and provide a tight fit and closure. The valve is thus mounted loosely and slidably on the inner terminal of the spindle and is tiltahle or swingable about the pointed end 32 to a limited extent. The spindle has a collar 35 thereon near its inner end bearing against the inner side of the diaphragm 30, and a spacer sleeve 36 is fitted on the spindle between the tWo diaphragms and contacts at its inner end with the small diaphragm 30 and. at its outer end with the outer large diaphragm 27. A follower disk or plate 38 is fitted on-the spindle and bears against the outer side of the diaphragm 27, and a nut 39 is screwed on the spindle within the easing 23 to bear the disk 38, and said nut in being tightened will clamp the diaphragm 30 between the collar 35 and sleeve 36, and will clamp the diaphragm 37 between said sleeve and the follower disk 38. The central portions of the diaphragms and spindle thus move as a unit, and the inner section 25 of the casing 23 has an opening 37 through which the sleeve 36 extends, and said open ing establishes communication between the space in rear of the diaphragm 27 and the space between the diaphragm 30 and section. 25, so that the two diaphragms are subj ected to the same air pressure between them or within the casing 23 behind the diaphragm 27. The outer terminal of the spindle 31 extends slidably through the section 24 of the casing 23, and has screw threaded thereon an adjusting nut 4-0, and a coiled expansion spring 41 is disposed on the spindle and is confined between the nut 40 and easing section 24, whereby to exert the necessary outward tension on the spindle 31 to move the diaphragms and spindle outwardly when the air pressure or suction is reduced a predetermined amount against the diaphragm 27. The nut 40 can be adjusted to regulate the tension of the spring whereby to move the spindle outwardly and permit the valve 22 to open upon a predetermined reduction in the air pressure against the diaphragm 27.

The air suction pipe 13 has a branch 4L2 connected to the casing'section 25 behind for the loose the diaphragm 27 whereby the partial vacuum or air suction-will extend into the casing 23 between the diaphragms 27 and 30. The diaphragm 30, as hereinbefore indicated, will not only prevent the liquid from passing the diaphragm and entering the easing 23 and air suction pipe, but will also prevent the air suction from ext-ending past said diaphragm into the drain outlet.

As shown in Fig. 1, the air suction pipe 13 is provided with a manually adjustable valve 43 of any suitable kind for shutting off the flow of air more or less, asmay be desired or necessary, for the reasons'hereinafter more fully set forth.

In operation, supposing the air and liquid inlet nipple 14 is connected to the filler heads of a filling apparatus (not shown) for exhausting air from bottles or vessels to draw liquid into the vessels as disclosed in the aforesaid eopending applications, Serial Nos. 226,808 and 238,503 or the like,-the flow of air into the chamber is retarded or attenuated, thereby increasing the suction or partial acuum within the chamber or jar 9 and the pipe 13. The air suction will extend by way of the branch 42 into the diaphragm chamber between the two diaphragms, and the diaphragm 27 having a larger exposed portion than the diaphragm 30, will result in the diaphragm 27 being drawn inwardly by the air suction, as seen in Fig. 3, thereby moving the spindle 31 and diaphragm 30 inwardly and forcing the valve 32 against the seat 21. Thiswill close the drain outlet of the chamber, so

that any liquid flowing with the air to the chamber by way of the tube 12, will be trapped within the chamber, and, furthermore, the air suction cannot pass down through the drain outlet, which would allow the entrance of air .or the raising of liquidv back through the drain outlet into the chamber. The drain outlet is thus shut when the partial vacuum or air suction is relatively high, that is, a predetermined reduced air pressure, but when the air suction conduit is opened to the atmosphere, so that air can freely enter, this will naturally reduce the air suction or vacuum in the chamber as well as in the pipe 13. The suction against the diaphragm 27 is therefore reduced sufficiently so that the spring 41 comes into play and draws the spindle 31 and diaphragms outwardly, to release the valve 22 from its seat and permit said'valve to be opened by the pressure of the liquid from within the chamber against the valve, said valve opening in the direction of the discharge of the liquid from the chamber. During the free admission of air to the chamber, the pressure of air within chamber is almost atmospheric or sufiiciently near atmospheric pressure, so that the liquid can drain from the chamber. When the liquid has passed the valve 22 and the air suction is exerted against the valve 22, it can slideon the spindle to closed position, to serve as a check valve, rather than permitting the air suction to raise the liquid through the drain outlet to reenter the chamber. Thus, when the spindle 31 is retracted by the spring All, the valve 22 can open, but it can also slide on the spindle to closed position if the suction from within the chamber is suiiicient to close the" valve. The valve 43 can be so adjusted that the withdrawal of air from the chamber is restricted to correspond with the admission of air to the chamber when the air suction conduit is opened to the at mosphere. This will prevent the pump from drawing the air from the chamber faster than the air can enter the chamber, which would, if it occurred, maintain a partial vacuum in the chamber, and possibly prevent the valve 22 from opening. However, by restricting the flow of the air-from the chamber to the pump, this will assure of thereduction in the vacuum in the chamber when air is admitted freely into the air suction conduit, and thereby assure of the valve 22 being opened. Then, when the admission of air to the chamber is again impeded or retarded, such as when air is being exhausted from bottles or vessels and liquid drawn into the air suction conduit, the vacuum within the chamber and pipe 13 is increased, so that the increase in suction against the diaphragm 27 will again move the spindle 31 inwardly against the tension lOO of the spring 41 to close the valve 22 and hold it seated during the flow of air under the reduced pressure orincreased vacuum through the jar and air suction conduit.

The operation of the trap is therefore entirely automatic, and the liquid trapped within the chamber is automatically discharged or drained therefrom each time that the vacuum or suction is reduced by the free admission of air into the air suction conduit and chamber. I

This device can be used for various purposes, including the apparatus'for filling bottles or vessels disclosed in the copending applications hereinbefore referred to, and is also especially useful in the bottle filling machine as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 578,188, filed July 18, 1922.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, and means controlling the liquid drain outlet for openlng and closing same by comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, and automatic means for closing and opening the liquid drain outlet when the air suction insaid conduit is increased and decreased to predetermined amounts depending upon the restriction in flow through said inlet.

3. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and liquid drain outlet, and pneumatic means controllingsaid liquid drain outlet and controlled by the air suction in said conduit for opening and closing said drain outlet by changes in air suction depending upon the restriction in flow through said inlet.

A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, a valve controlling the drain outlet, and automatic means for opening and closing said valve controlled by changes in air suction.

5. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet. an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, a valve for said drain outlet, and pneumatic means controlling said valve and controlled by the air suction for closing and opening said valve when the air suction is increased and decreased to predetermined amounts.

6. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and liquid drain outlet, a valve for the drain outlet, and pneumatic means including an air suction operated member for closing the valve when the suction is increased to a predetermined. amount.

7. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid ilet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain out 7 let, a valve controlling the drain outlet, and

pneumatic means including a diaphragm moved by the air suction and operatively connected with the valve for closing it when the suction is increased to a predetermined amount.

8. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, a valve controlling said drain outlet, a casing, a diaphragm within the casing, a spindle attached to the diaphragm and arranged to close the valve, said casing having air suction means to communicate with the conduit, so that the diaphragm is moved for closing the valve, and spring means tensioning said spindle to release the valve when the air suction is decreased to a, predetermined amount.

9. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, a valve for the drain outlet, and pneumatic means for controlling the valve including a diaphragm, a smaller diaphragm between said drain outlet and first named diaphragm, and a spindle attached to the diaphragms for closing said valve, the space between the diaphragms being subjected to the air suction for moving the diaphragms and spindle to close the valve when the suction is increased to a predetermined amount.

10. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a member having a liquid drain outlet, a valve movable in said member for controlling the drain outlet, a casing attached to said member, a diaphragm in said casing, a smaller diaphragm between said casing and member, and a spindle attached to the diaphragms and engaging the valve for closing it, said casing having air suction means to communicate with the conduit for moving the first named diaphragm and spindle to close the valve when the suction is increased to a predetermined amount.

11. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a member with a liquid drain outlet and a valve seat, a valve to bear against said seat movable away from the seat in the direction of the flow of liquid passing through the drain outlet, said casing comprising sections secured together and one secured to said member, a diaphragm secured between said sections, a smaller diaphragm secured between said section and member, aspindle attached to the diapln'agms, said valve being slidable on one terminal of the spindle to be, moved by the spindle against the seat or to slide on the spindle to closed position by suction from within said chamber, said casing having means between the diaphragms for communication with said conduit so that the air suction moves the diaphragn'is and spindle to seat the valve when the suction is increased to a. predetermined amount, and spring means between said spindle and casing for retracting the spindle and releasing the valve when the suction decreases to a predetermined amount.

12. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain out let, a valve controlling the drain outlet and arranged to open in the direction of the lot) flow of liquid through the drain outlet, and automatic mean for closing said valve including a spindle, said valve being slidable on the spindle to be moved by the spindle to closed position or to slide on the spindle to closed position by suction from within the chamber.

13. A device of the character described comprising a chamber adapted to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, a valve controlling the drain outlet and closed by air suction from within the chamber and adapted to open in the direction of the flow of the liquid through the drain outlet, and automatic means cooperable with the valve for closing it when the air suction increases to a determined amount.

14. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, a valve controlling the drain outlet, and automatic means for controlling the valve including a spindle, the valve being mounted on one terminal of the spindle for sliding and tilting movements.

15. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit and having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a member with a liquid drain outlet and a valve seat, a valve seata'ble against said seat for closing the drain outlet and movable to open in the direction of the flow of liquid through the drain outlet, and automatic means for seating said valve including a spindle having one terminal projecting to the valve, said valve having a socket receiving said terminal for the sliding and tilting movement of the valve on the spindle.

16. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain out let, a valve for controlling the liquid drain outlet, pneumatic means including a suctionoperated member for closing said valve preupon a-predetermined increase in the suction, and an air suction pipe communicating with said air outlet and having a branch communicating with said means whereby {)he air suction is operable against said mem- 17. A device of the character described comprising a chamber to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, a valve for the drain outlet, means controlled by the suction air for closing said valve when the air suction is increased to a predetermined amount,an air suction pipe communicating with said air outlet, and means in said pipe for restricting the flow of air according to the admission of air to said chamber so as to reduce the suction in said chamber.

18.;A device of the character described, comprising a chamber having a liquid drain outlet, a pair of tubes upstanding within the chamber, one for the inlet of air and liquid and the other for the outlet of air, and means for controlling the drain outlet, the air and liquid inlet tube having its upper terminal bent back and directed downwardly.

19. A device of the character described comprising a chamber having a liquid drain outlet, a pair of tubes upstanding within the chamber, one for the inlet of air and liquid and the other for the outlet of air, and means for controlling the drain outlet, the airand. liquid inlet tube having its upper terminal bent back and directed downwardly and disposed "adjacent to the air outlet tube and attached thereto.

20. A device of the character described comprising a chamber adapted to be disposed in an air suction conduit having an air and liquid inlet, an air outlet, and a liquid drain outlet, a valve for the drain outlet, and automatic means controlling said valve to open and close it while air is passing through said chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FRED LYNNE SHELOR. 

